Echoes of a Legend

Chapter THIRTEEN: Leaving the Past Behind

“You see, despite my rough exterior-, I am a dab hand at weaving.” Abelena Garin

‘It’s an incredible thing, isn’t it?’ Maven said as he watched Abelena stare at the plaque from the sacred cross of Jesus Christ, which was lying neatly in its very own casket ready to be sealed.

She did not answer him but turned to smile.

It had taken them many weeks to complete their journey back to France and after a day’s rest in the abbey they were both now refreshed and full of thoughts about their future.

Being careful not to destroy the box by pushing too hard, Maven lowered the lid onto the casket and pressed it shut. Picking up two bands of rope, he tied them underneath and around, one horizontally and one vertically so they crossed in the middle, finishing by tying them together in a thick knot.

‘Pass me that candle please?’ He said nodding towards a thick set one standing nearby on another crate.

He watched as Abelena’s face darkened and then lit up again as she approached the brightening light. It was a pretty face, rounded and delicate of features. He had known her many years now and each time he looked at her, he felt that she looked the same as she always had. The ravages of time and the harsh life experiences she had endured had played no part in her appearance. Maven was very different with his neat black beard covering one scar which was in a tidy formation to another that lay parallel upon his cheek.

He took the candle and nodded a thank you in her direction.

The surface of the pool of melted wax, which had formed around the wick, shimmered as he tipped it slowly onto the surface of the casket. When satisfied that enough had gathered, he reached for his wooden seal that hung from his belt and pressed the pattern into the hot wax.

‘I’ve always loved the idea of the horse with two people on its back,’ said Abelena as she bent over to blow gently on the seal.

Maven’s hand went to brush the back of her head before stopping and realising that such an action was inappropriate. God had moved his heart towards the bible, but he felt he was now tugging him away and towards Abelena. Since he joined the Order he had never felt desires to any women, yet over time and with his passion for the cause waning, the thought of a ladies skin pressed tightly against his, was new and one which he was not keen to easily dismiss.

‘Is that the last of the caskets?’ Abelena asked.

‘Yes all finished. Thank you for your help.’

‘The pleasure was all mine,’ she replied as she lifted a small lantern to help guide her way to the entrance.

The stone floored room they were in was cool and dark aside from a few torches that lit the various pillars supporting the dormitory above. Twenty five cases in all lined the far wall, each one with a story to tell and each one as precious as the other. Maven did not know what was contained in each one and did not care much either as he was only responsible for the items he had dealt with in Jerusalem. The Orders relics, jewels and monies were accumulating at a considerable rate. So much so that buildings and land were now being offered in preference to more items they had to store; as their austere life had not changed in the slightest. After today, the Order would create a new position, one that could catalogue and control these gifts and acquisitions, this person would be called a Provincial Master. Today it was Mavens job to box and record his items, tomorrow the Provincial Master would take over and rumours of a secret storage area and location maps had circulated amongst the Brothers. Maven did not take much notice of the title tattle and went about his tasks as obediently as usual.